Dr. Vokes on Recent Progress in the Treatment Landscape of Head and Neck Cancer

Everett Vokes, MD

Published: Wednesday, Jan 18, 2017

Everett Vokes, MD, John E. Ultmann Professor of Medicine and Radiation Oncology, physician-in-chief, University of Chicago Medical Center, chair, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, discusses recent progress in the treatment landscape of head and neck cancer.

According to Vokes, the significant strides in this field have occurred specifically in the previously untreated population of patients. The addition of chemoradiation, while not completely satisfactory due to its toxicity, has elevated cure rates for these patients, he explains.

Additionally, the discovery of human papillomavirus as a profile, and even as a new type of head and neck cancer, has allowed oncologists in this space to distinguish patient groups, specific risk factors, prognosis, and treatment approaches.

Everett Vokes, MD, John E. Ultmann Professor of Medicine and Radiation Oncology, physician-in-chief, University of Chicago Medical Center, chair, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, discusses recent progress in the treatment landscape of head and neck cancer.

According to Vokes, the significant strides in this field have occurred specifically in the previously untreated population of patients. The addition of chemoradiation, while not completely satisfactory due to its toxicity, has elevated cure rates for these patients, he explains.

Additionally, the discovery of human papillomavirus as a profile, and even as a new type of head and neck cancer, has allowed oncologists in this space to distinguish patient groups, specific risk factors, prognosis, and treatment approaches.